Egg cleaning equipment



June 26, 1956 o. c. NIEDERER ET AL 2,751,717

EGG CLEANING EQUIPMENT Filed June 50, 1953 Fqz.

' INVENTORS 0770 C. N/EDERER By 0 77'0 N/EDERER HERBERT O. N/EDERER A TTOR/VEY United States Pa flfo Patented June 26, 1956 EGG CLEANING Otto C. Niederer, Otto Niederer, and Herbert i Niederer, Titusville, N. J.

Application June 30, 1953, Serial No. 365,218

4 Claims. (Clr 51 16) This invention relates to egg cleaning equipment wherein flexible abrasive bands are brought into contact with the eggs being cleaned. The invention is directed particularly to constructions wherein the abrasive bands are relatively flexible in a transverse direction and preferably are permanently curved in cross section.

Egg cleaning equipment of the type shown and described inv our issued Patents Nos. 2,579,603 and 2,579,604 have proven very successful in Operation and are typical of the equipment in which abrasive bands embodying. the present invention may be embodied. These devices are provided with means for supporting the eggs in position to be engaged by a plurality of flexible abrasive bands and the eggs are oscillated during their movement through.

the device in contact with the abrasive bands- While concave rollers are employed for arranging the bands in general conformity with the contour of the eggs, the bands themselves are flat in cross section. Moreover, since the equipment may be used under conditions of varying humidity, the adhesive used to bond the abrasive grain to the band is of a water resistant resinous character which renders the band quite stiff in a transverse direction especially when held under tension. The bands, therefore, engage the eggs tangentially with the result that they bear against the eggs more harshly along the center of the bands than at the edges thereof with the result that the eggs are actually cleaned along a great number of interesting lines. The abrasive then tends to wear away along the center leaving the abrasive at the edges of the bands relatively fresh and clean. The stiffer and rougher edges of the bands do not conform to the contour of the eggs readily. Moreover, the pulleys about which the brasive bands pass are generally crowned for the purpose of centering the bands and as a result the central portion of the band is repeatedly stretched to conform to the convex crown of the pulleys. The band does not fully recover from this stretching and after it has been in use for some time it frequently takes. on a permanent convex contour in whichthe edges curl up ward away from the eggs, increasing the Wearing away of the central portion of the band and decreasing its effective width. The stiff rougher edges of the bands also tend to cut into the shell of an' egg when they come into contact with an egg being oscillated during the cleaning operation. Because of these characteristics of the abrasive bands heretofore used in egg cleaningv equipment, the cleaning actually takes place in a series of relatively narrow lines which intersect but do not overlap sufliciently to insure the desired effectiveness of the cleaning" operation.

In accordence with the present invention, the abrasive bands usedin egg cleaning equipment are rendered relatively flexible in a transverse direction and are preferably curved in cross section so as to present a concave abrasive carrying surface to the eggs whereby the entire width of the band is utilized and more uniform and gentle cleaning is effected throughout overlapping areas. The bands wear down uniformly throughout the width thereof, they conform readily to the contour of the eggs being cleaned, and the actual life of the band and its effectiveness in operation are greatly increased.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for cleaning eggs more uniformly and gently than has been possible heretofore.

Another object of the invention is to render abrasive bands more flexible in a transverse direction whereby they conform more readily to the contour of an egg.

A specific object of the invention is to provide flexible abrasive bands which are curved in cross section for use in egg cleaning equipment so as to present a continuously concave abrasive surface to eggs passing through the equipment.

These and other objects and features of the presentv invention will appear from the following description thereof in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective illustrating a portion of a typical egg cleaning device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view through the device of Fig. 1 showing the manner in which the abrasive bands engage an'egg; and

Fig. 3' is a perspective illustrating typical means for producing abrasive bands of curved cross section in accordance with the present invention.

In that form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, the egg cleaning equipment is of the type shown and described in our issued Patent No. 2,579,604. In such equipment, the bands of flexible abrasive material 2 pass about a driving pulley 4 and beneath the concave pulley 5 into position to engage eggs 8 moving lengthwise through the equipment while supported on a belt 10. The belt is oscillated transversely by means of a lever 12 so that the eggs are tilted as they move lengthwise through the equipment for discharge onto the egg receiving platform 14.

The bands 2 preferably are successive portions of a continuous elongated strip held under controlled tension by passage around a pulley 16 which is movable by a spring I8 to place all of the bands under substantially the same tension. The bands are generally from about A to /4 inch in width and preferably about /2 inch wide so that several bands will engage each egg at the same time as shown in Fig. 2. The lower egg engaging surface of the bands in this type of equipment are preferably moved in the direction of the arrow 20 as the eggs being cleaned move in the opposite direction toward the egg receiving platform 14.

The abrasive bands may be formed of any suitable or preferred material but it has been found in practice that the bands should have a fabric backing since they are intended for operation for long periods of time and are subjectedto a certain amount of longitudinal tension. Furthermore, the abrasive material is preferably bonded to the fabric by a Water resistant adhesive or resinous material because of the varying humidity to which such equipment is frequently subjected. Tape having. the abrasive grain bonded to one face thereof by a suitable resinous material is generally preferred. Typical tape of this type. is sold by the Helm-Manning Company under the designation lOQ-X-Speed-Wet Durite cloth, Triple Flex. Of course, if the type and size of grain and bonding agent varies or the product is obtained from other manufacturers, the tape may be designated by other names and terms.

The abrasive bands may be obtained from the manufactur'er in the desired width or a web of abrasive material may be cut into bands if preferred. In either case, the adhesive bonding agent by which the abrasive grain is secured to the backing renders the band quite stiff in a transverse direction. 'The band is therefore weakened ing the bond by which the abrasive is secured to the fabric backing. The breaking downof the layer occurs to the greatest extent along the central area and may beaccompanied by some stretching 'or weakening of the fabric backing itself adjacent the center of the band. The resulting band is preferably curved in cross section and has the abrasive grain presented on the concave face of the band.

A convenient device which may be'employed for conditioning the bands as described is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the upper forming roll 22 is provided with an outer face 24 of rounded or U-shaped cross section complementary to the semi-circular or u-shaped groove 26 in the lower forming wheel 28. The forming rolls are held in substantial engagement or are suitably urged toward each other so that when tape 30 is'passed longitudinally between such forming rolls the stiff abrasive layer is broken and the fabric tape is stretched in a transverse direction along its center line, giving the band a permanent concave cross section as itemerges from between the rolls, as indicated at 32 in Fig, 3. The weakening of the band occurs to a greater extent along the center but the edges also are rendered more flexible, whereas the strength of the band in a longitudinal direction is substantially unimpaired.

While the forming rollers of Fig. 3 have been used to advantage, it will be evident that abrasive tape of suitable contour and transverse flexibility can be produced in any other suitable or convenient manner desired.

It is found in practice that concave tape of the type de' scribed will flatten out as it passes around rollers such as the roller 4 in Fig. 1, and as it passes beneath the concave roller 6. However, the tape will assume its normal concave contour as it moves into contactfwith the eggs, so that the abrasive carrying surface ofthe bands will engage the surface of the eggs throughout substantially ;the entire cross section of the bands. The flexible marginal edges of the bands press lightly against the eggs and conform readily to their contour. The eggs are thereby cleaned with a light wiping action extending over a substantial area of the eggs. Moreover, when an egg is tilted or otherwise moved in its passage through the equipment, the wiped and cleaned areas overlap so that gentle, uniform cleaning of the'entire surface of an egg is accomplished.

The wearing away of the bands occurs equally along the center and edges of the band. Tension exerted on the band therefore does not result stretching of one portion of the band any more than another and the tendency for the band to present'a convex cleaning surface is overcome altogether. The life of the band is increased materially and it has been found in actual practice that bands produced in accordance with the present invention will perform an effective cleaning operation when worn down much more than would bepossible when using the flat tangential type of egg cleaning band heretofore employed. The number of eggs which may be cleaned per hour when using the concave bands of the present invention also is increased since the cleaning is more uniform and fewer eggs have to be passed through the equipment a second timeto insure satisfactory and.

uniform cleaning thereof.

The radius of curvature in cross section of the abrasive bands of the present invention may vary somewhat but,

in general, it is preferable for the band to have a radius of curvature between about A and 2 inches. In actual. practice a radius of curvature about /2 to 1 inch is. gen:

erally used. On the other hand, the radius of curvature of the rib 24 and groove 26 in the forming wheels 22 and 23 of the construction shown Fig. 3 is. generally considerably less than 1 inch in order to allow. for substantial recovery'of the abrasive" band after the'forming operation. It is found in practice that abrasive bands, formed as described, will fetain their concave contour during months of use although there is some tendency for the radius of curvature to decrease slightly as the abrasive band becomes worn down.. 1

While the concave abrasive bands of the present invention are 'articularly suitable for use incleaning eggs with the equipment shown and described in our Patents Nos. 2,579,603 and 2,579,604,the invention also .is adapted for use in cleaning, eggs. with other types of egg cleaning equipment and particularly in those constructions wherein the eggs areloscillated during their passage through the device.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the abrasive bands of the present invention may be produced in any suitable way and may be used in any preferred type of equipment. It should, therefore, be unstood that the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing anddescribed above is intended to be illustrative only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

1. A continuous longitudinally and transversely flexible traveling abrasive band for use in egg cleaning equipment comprising a fabric strip having abrasive material bonded to one surface thereof by a water resistant adhesive, the band being permanently shaped so as to maintain a form which throughout its length is curved incross section with the abrasive located'on the concave surface thereof.

2. A continuous longitudinally and transversely flexible V traveling abrasive band for use in egg cleaning equipment comprising a fabric strip having abrasive material bonded' to one surface thereof by a water resistant adhesive, the

band being permanently shaped so as to maintain'a form which throughoutits length is curved in cross section with the abrasive located on the concave surface thereof, the radius of curvature of the band being uniform. and from about A to 2 inches. 3. A continuous longitudinally and transversely flexible traveling abrasive band for use in egg cleaning equipment comprising a fabric strip having abrasive material bonded to one surface thereof by a Water resistant adhesive, said abrasive material being broken down in a direction transversely of the band, said band being permanently shaped so as to maintain a form which throughout its length is curved in cross section with the abrasive located on the concave surface thereof whereby the band is relatively more flexible in a transverse than in a longitudinal direction. 1

4. Egg cleaning equipment comprising a support for an egg to be cleaned, two spaced members, a plurality of abrasive bands movable between said members,.said

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,514 Wysong Nov. 14, 1905 994,358 Wysong June 6, 1911 1,150,805 Beran Aug. 17, 1915 1,565,027 Okie Dec..8, 1925 1,615,231 Power s Jan. 25, 1927' 1,775,631 Carlton Sept. 16, 1930 2,078,484 Dobson Apr. 27, 1937 2,431,795 Elmes Dec. 2, 1947 2,457,324 Shock Dec. 28, 1948 2,513,449 Caldwell July 4, 1950 2,579,603 Niederer et a1 Dec. 25, 1951 2,579,604 Niederer et a1 Dec. 25, 1951 

